School of Biblical Hebrew

“No other course will give you a better return on your time or resources.”Bill Bivin, SIL Americas Area Translation Coordinator

“Welcome to the world of biblical Hebrew. You are invited to grow its language within yourself and to explore its many texts. It is our privilege to share this adventure and discovery with you in the most efficient way possible so that you may communicate these texts in languages around the world.”

Randall Buth PhDVice President Institute for Biblical Languages & Translation

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

Isaiah 40:8, ESV

Equipping faithful stewards

As stewards of God’s Word, the translators’ task is to transfer the meaning of the source text into new target languages as faithfully as they can.

Translators must be able to read fluently, with a nuanced understanding of vocabulary, syntax structures, cultural background and literary purposes, so that they can transfer this into their own languages.

For the first time in church history we have a new opportunity, a living Hebrew language environment, which allows us to teach biblical Hebrew the best way possible, through language immersion in the locations in which it was written.

Why are we doing this?

Biblical Hebrew immersion

Total immersion is known to be the most efficient approach to language learning. ACTFL1 recommends that language educators and their students use the target language as exclusively as possible (90%+) at all levels – during instructional time and, when feasible, beyond the classroom.2

Biblical land & culture

Seeing and experiencing the geography and culture from biblical texts gives a direct frame of reference for translation.

Live-learn environment

Language immersion is reinforced through the use of modern Hebrew in daily life, both in and outside of the class setting.

1 American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages2 http://www.actfl.org/news/position-statements/use-the-target-language-the-classroom

At the Institute, we have developed a unique course that capitalizes on the surroundings in modern Israel to create the optimal environment for biblical Hebrew training, by combining these 3 strands:

Why are we doing this?

Training translators in Israel

School of Biblical Hebrew

The goal of the IBLT School of Biblical Hebrew is to equip participants with the skills necessary for proficiency in translating the Old Testament directly from the source language.

The SBH is a one-of-a-kind 8-month program that trains translators to make independent decisions about the meaning of the source text in Old Testament translation projects.

Through interdisciplinary and experiential courses, we give participants the skills they need to address the diverse linguistic issues that translators face on the field.

This program provides 48 credits in Hebrew, with 3 times more biblical Hebrew credits* than the current general requirement for a Translation Consultant.

*SBH offers 26 biblical Hebrew credits. Comparison has been made to the general requirement of 9 credits.

What is unique about this program?

Immersion90% of the biblical Hebrew training is taught in the language itself, already at beginning and intermediate levels. Language learning professionals agree that this is the most effective approach.

Historical, cultural & geographic settingThroughout the course the focus is clearly and consistently on biblical Hebrew and the careful reading and studying of biblical Hebrew texts within their linguistic, geographical, cultural and historical setting. The focused study of biblical Hebrew within this context deepens understanding and enables retention for future use in a way that could not be accomplished if taught primarily in another language.

Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS)TPRS accelerates learning in the biblical Hebrew classes. The language teaching techniques of TPRS fill the classroom with understandable biblical Hebrew as the oral medium from the first lesson. As Stephen Krashen (widely recognized researcher and theorist in second language acquisition studies) comments, “TPRS is better than anything else out there.”

Cutting-edge linguisticsThe school teaches perspectives of discourse linguistics throughout the biblical Hebrew courses. This provides the linguistic sensitivity that translators need to evaluate the significance of why a biblical author would choose one structure or phrase over another. This essential component in the training of translators is threaded into each of the biblical Hebrew language modules.

Benefit of Modern HebrewThe program integrates modern Hebrew with the biblical Hebrew classes. The modern language is the most efficient framework for internalizing the structure of the biblical language, thus accelerating the language learning process.

Biblical Hebrew is not a complete language, and so modern Hebrew can be used when discussing texts to cover any gaps in the biblical language, without needing to resort to other languages. Modern Hebrew also gives participants access to valuable modern Hebrew commentaries on the biblical texts.

Dr. Aaron Hornkohl, Hebrew Language Officer, University of Cambridge, says:

“While I have taken a handful of excellent biblical Hebrew courses with teachers who imparted foundational and/or seminal lessons, my own ability to read, analyze and teach the language and literature of the Bible is more a result of linguistic fluency gained thanks to the study of the modern tongue. This is for the simple reason that actually learning Hebrew has proven far more useful than merely learning to talk about it.”

Live-learn environmentThe school reinforces Hebrew use in daily life, beyond the classroom. This program provides a unique living environment, in which Hebrew is used at meals, in travel and in daily routines among hosts and students around the housing and in the surrounding environment of modern Israel.

Focused language learningThe course focuses on Hebrew language learning and the study of Bible texts, making maximal use of the linguistic environment. The school is therefore an intense language program that is designed to complement other training, affirming that the study of cross-cultural communication and translation theory and practice may profitably take place elsewhere.

Actually learning Hebrew has proven far more useful than merely learning to talk about it.

Dr. Aaron Hornkohl Hebrew Language Officer, University of Cambridge, UK

The school’s program includes field trips to biblical locations, allowing students to directly observe the significance of the geography and physical artifacts while reading the relevant Hebrew texts. Descriptions on site are taught in basic biblical Hebrew and “easy” (modern) Hebrew, as necessary.

Field trips will include various sites and museums, and classroom teaching will cover cultural configurations of ancient life in Israel, bringing to life key Hebrew terms for translators.

Learning on location

Field trips, lands & culture

ModulesOur course is split into 3 strands: Modern Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew and Text, Lands & Culture. These are taught concurrently over 8 months, building on each other’s foundations to provide incremental learning and allowing the introduction of more complex genres as understanding increases. All course materials are developed on up-to-date pedagogical best practice.

Modern Hebrew Credits

Aleph 3 credits

Aleph+ 1 credit

Bet 3 credits

Bet+ 3 credits

Gimel 4 credits

Gimel+ 4 credits

Dalet 4 credits

Sample course calendar*

*For illustration purposes only. Exact dates and course schedule are subject to change.

Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8

Biblical Hebrew

Texts, Lands & Culture

Modern Hebrew

Legal TextsFinal Paper

Aleph Gimel+

History of the Hebrew Language

Field Trips

Field Trips

Bet

Intermediate Biblical Hebrew - Part Two

Aleph+ Bet+ Gimel Dalet

Narrative TextsPoetic Textsand Psalms

Seminar onSelected Texts

Field Trips

Classroom Teaching

Intermediate Biblical Hebrew - Part One

INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED-INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8

Biblical Hebrew

Texts, Lands & Culture

Modern Hebrew

Legal TextsFinal Paper

Aleph Gimel+

History of the Hebrew Language

Field Trips

Field Trips

Bet

Intermediate Biblical Hebrew - Part Two

Aleph+ Bet+ Gimel Dalet

Narrative TextsPoetic Textsand Psalms

Seminar onSelected Texts

Field Trips

Classroom Teaching

Intermediate Biblical Hebrew - Part One

INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED-INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

Biblical Hebrew: Intermediate

Part One 5 credits

Part Two 3 credits

Biblical Hebrew: Advanced-Intermediate Seminars

Narrative Texts 2 credits

Poetic Texts & Psalms 2 credits

Legal Texts 2 credits

Biblical Hebrew: Advanced

History of the Hebrew Language 3 credits

Seminar and Paper 4 credits

Texts, Lands and Culture

Classroom Teaching 2 credits

Field Trips 3 credits

TOTAL: 48 credits

Pre-requisitesParticipants should:

• be sponsored by a Bible translation organization or project, although an independent participant may also apply.

• have an introduction to biblical Hebrew, or the equivalent of a one-year university-level course (6 credits).

• have the ability to read basic English, but will be permitted to present research in other languages including: English, French, Spanish, Russian and Hebrew.

Participants will be required to study the series of Living Biblical Hebrew: Part One1 before coming to Israel in order to prepare for rapid learning in an oral environment. Listening to the material requires about 20-25 hours of preparation.

Faculty Teachers of the SBH program will be from a pool of credentialed Hebrew professors and scholars (PhD or MA), primarily graduates of Israeli universities or teachers at the universities.

The whole program will receive reinforcement and language support through resident assistants. This commitment to using Hebrew outside of the classroom in a friendly environment both enhances the coursework and enables greater success for participants.

Costs Tuition and living costs are 25,000USD per participant for the duration of the course. This covers accommodation, board and transport while in Israel, as well as any costs associated with field trips. The cost does not include flights or equipment, and is subject to change without notice.

Financial aid and bursaries can be applied for during the application process, and will be awarded on a case-by-case basis.

1 To be provided on acceptance into the program

Course information

*

Start your application process at: http://4220foundation.com/programs/iblt/apply

CertificationAn accreditation process is underway for the school and first year accreditation may obtained under the auspices of shared schools. Further details to be announced in summer 2016.

Please note that those wishing to obtain credit from their home institution for attending this program must make appropriate arrangements with that institution in advance.

Application ProcessFull details of the application process and requirements are available on our website: http://4220foundation.com/programs/iblt/apply/

Alternatively, contact our team by phone*: +1-(804)-592-1972

For many nationalities, visas will be required for entrance into Israel. It is therefore advisable to start the application process as early as possible. *(8am - 1pm EST, Mon - Fri)

Endorsements“Mission history shows that no church planting movement has been sustained long term without access to the whole Bible.”

Samuel ChiangPresident & CEO, The Seed Company

“I am delighted to see this initiative to take on the challenge of accelerating the translation of the Old Testament to resource disciple-making movements among the Bible-less.

This is a critical and foundational task which the Church cannot afford to neglect.”

Ram Gidoomal Chairman, Lausanne Movement

“From personal experience, I can state that the language methodology used in this course is second to none. Also, since 80% of modern Hebrew employs biblical Hebrew vocabulary, using the language in Israel will exponentially improve participants’ biblical Hebrew fluency and thus increase their effectiveness as translation consultants and facilitators. No other course will give you a better return on your time or resources.”

Bill BivinSIL Americas Area Translation Coordinator

See more at:

instituteforbiblicallanguages.com

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U.S.APhone: +1 (804) 274 8423 P.O. Box 23027Richmond, VA 23223

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